Coronavirus Disease among Workers in Food Processing, Food Manufacturing, and Agriculture Workplaces

A study in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases by the CDC found that among 742 food and agriculture work locations surveyed in 30 states, 8,978 workers had confirmed COVID-19, and 55 workers died. The ethnical mix shows that 36.5% of workers are Hispanic or Latino, 52.6% are non-Hispanic White, 5.9% are non-Hispanic Black, 3.5% are non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander, and 1.5% are of other non-Hispanic race or ethnicity groups. Among workers with COVID-19 for whom race or ethnicity data were reported, 72.8% were Hispanic or Latino, 6.3% were non-Hispanic Black, and 4.1% were non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander. The data suggest that Hispanic or Latino, non-Hispanic Black, and non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander workers in these workplaces might be disproportionately affected by COVID-19. Testing in meat and poultry processing facilities showed widespread COVID-19 outbreaks and identified high proportions of asymptomatic or presymptomatic infections.  @ https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/27/1/20-3821_article